Page:Journal of botany, British and foreign, Volume 34 (1896).djvu/39

 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FLORA OF SOUTH AFRICA. 23 flavescenti-hirta, stylo indurato rostrata, ad 2*8 cm. longa, 2-2*5 mill. lata. Had : Kalahari Region ; Cape Colony, near Hope Town, in red sand, alt. about 1100 met., fl. March, Dr. E. B. Muskett (No. 2039 of herb. Bolus). A very distinct species, well characterised by its frequently inciso-dentate leaves, very short racemes, and stout pods. The leaves are green, either entire or with 1-3 short broad acute teeth on either side. The species may be placed next to I, argyroides, E. Mey. Indigofera rostrata, n.sp. (§ Products). — Suifruticosa erecta ramosa ; rami subvirgati foliosi adscendentes, tenuiter strigoso- pubescentes, ad 30 cm. longi ; stipulse setaceae patentes ; folia ssepius dense imbricata erecta, rarius patentia, imparipinnata 3-5- juga, jugis inferioribus 2-3 mill, supra basin proditis, petiolo communi 0*6-3 cm. longo, foliolis lineari-oblongis utrinque acutis, vel obovato-oblongis obtusis, mucronulatis, plus minus strigosis, superne saepe glabris, complicatis expansisve, 1-2-3 cm. longis ; racemi axillares, pedunculo inferne nudo, sursum dense multifloro erecto-patenti, foliis 2-7-plo longiori ; flores majusculi ad 1*5 cm. longi, externe fulvo-sericei ; calyx fcurbinatus strigosus, segmentis subulatis acutis vel acuminatis, circa 3 mill, longus ; vexillum obovatum, alae carina breviores ; legumen adscendens rectum cylin- dricum griseum tenuiter strigosum apice rostratum, 4-4*9 cm. longum, 2-2-5 mill, latum. Hab : South-eastern Region ; Cape Colony : near Komgha, on grassy hills, alt. 550 met., fl. March, Flannqan (No. 509) ; Mt. Currie, 1600 met., Tyson (No. 1812 ; also No. 1264 of Herb. Austr.- Afr., Mac wall d Bolus). Orange Free State: Harrismith distr., 1700 met., fl. Dec, Bolus (Nos. 8149, 8150); also, perhaps. Cooper (No. 867). Trans Vaal Republic : near Olifant's R., Nov., Schlechter (No. 3761). A somewhat virgate shrub, variable as to the shape and size of its leaflets, and the length of its calyx-segments, but pretty constant in other respects. It has the habit of /. tristis, E. Mey., next to which I should place it, but is usually more robust, and with larger flowers, which resemble those of I. hedyantha, E. & Z. The less luxuriant specimens show narrower leaflets, and ther leaves more closely gathered round the branches; Cooper's 867, which I quote with doubt, is an extreme form of this, from a high altitude. In all, the long racemes of from 9 to 13 cm. in length, the peduncle nude for more than half the length, and the strongly-beaked pod, appear to be constant characters. Indigofera natalensis, n. sp. (§ Products). — Suffruticosa glabrescens ; rami graciles adscendentes foliati subgeniculato- flexuosi ; stipulse subulataB minimae decidusB ; folia petiolata impari- pinnata 1-2-juga, 5-6*7 cm. longa, petiolo communi gracili, foliolis late ovatis sursum longe angustatis subobtusis mucronulatis glabre- scentibus, terminali ad 4 cm. longo, 2*2 cm. lato, lateralibus minoribus, petiolulis (cum petiolis) basi verrucoso-glandulosis ;